Gas lift



Sept. 30, 1952 G. A. HUMAsoN 2,612,111

GAS LIFT Filed March 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Granv//le A. Hun'Icmo/f` INVENTOR.

BY 'y' M A TURA/YJ Sept- 30, 1952 G.- A. l-IUMASON 2,612,111

' GAS LIFT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6 1950 Granv//le A. Hum aso/'11 INVENTOR.

patented Sept. 30, 195.2

., fUNiTED STATES PATENT oiFFI-CE- I Y GAS LIFT Granville A. Humason, Houston, Tex.

2-(llaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for lifting huid, as oil, from a well by vinjecting gas into thejapparatus externally of `a hollow pumping kstring therein so that ,the gas may then lflow upwardly into a center :sleeve of the apparatus,

jsure maybe injected vinto the tubing string eX- ternally yof the pumping string from whence it may 'pass' upwardly within the sleeve centrally -within the apparatus to create the suction which `willfdraw iiuid upwardly therein and into va position from which the pumping string -may then 'operate' to withdraw the iiuid to the '-t'op yof the well.

It is yanother object of this invention to provide an apparatus of this class in which-gas, under pressure, is vforced downwardly through an annular space :between an outer housing and an inner sleeve member and then upwardly past a gas lift valvev within the sleeve member and through a standing valve thereabove, thereby creating the suction which will draw huid, as roil, through a ported plug closing the bottom of thehousing, and into the space varound the gas lift valve.

-Itfisyet a vfurther object of this invention to provide an apparatus of this class in vwhich the ilu'id passes upwardly through the travelling valve operable in .a working barrel ofthe app'aratus and from thence through a hollow sucker rod or pumping stringto the top of the wall. v v

It is yet `another object of this invention-to provide an apparatus of this class equipped with .a closure plug for the lower -end of the housing, which plug has passagemeans therein to place vthe annular space between housing and sleeve means in communication with a standing valve lconnectedl centrally'to the plug; and which plug also has axial port means therein for placing the space within the sleeve means surrounding the gas lift valve in communication with space withinr a tubular member connected to the plug .and extending therebelow. v

It yis yet another object `of this invention to provide. an apparatus of this 'class in Ywhich the plug which closes the housing has a tubular member connected therebelow having a Standyro ing valve-therein and terminating, downwardly Application- March 6, 1950, SerialNo. 147,989

(Cl. ID3-5) 2 Y walls thereof'for receiving fluid, las '011,' from the bottom yoi the well.

It is yet another k,object of this invention to provide apparatus of this class which is -operated in conjunction with means yat the top of the 'well for closing the vwell bore around thetubing string; for permitting thepumping string to move vertically therethrough, :in sealed engagement therewith; and zfor permitting gasunder pressure to be injected finto the annularspace between tubing string and pumping string.

Other and further 'objects will be apparent vwhen the'specication is considered inconnection with the drawings, in which: l'

Fig. 1 Ais an elevation of the apparatus; part in section. Y' y I 1- Fig. '2 is a sectional yelevation vof the apparatus showing the connection 'of the gas lift/'to the tubing string. f I y f Fig. 3 is a sectional elevationA `ofthe central portion of the gas'lift. -1 f Fig. 4 is ya 'sectional elevation showing details of the gas liift valve and the terminal plug ofthe gaslift.

Fig. 5 isa sectional elevation showing lthe-lower end of the gas lift. y

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken 'along line 6-6101 Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 .isa sectional plan 'viewtalsen'along lline l-fl of Fig. 3.

Fig.8 is va sectional plan view taken alongA line l8-8of Fig. l4.

Fig. 9 is a .sectional elevation taken-'through the apparatus at the top lo1? thewell.

- A: As shown in Fig. 1, a wellbore I isclosedlpat p the top thereof bythe casing head .2', which has the `head 3 connectedon thereabove to'which connections may be made, as the connections "3 'seal' 'containing member 4 is installed on-"topof `the head 3 to connectl it with the Christmastree 5. -As .shown in detail in Fig.A 9 the Christmas tree 5 has the seal f8 at thetop thereof, through which may operate. the pumping string 1,'which is lconnected thereabovelbythe member A8, to the walking beam oi a pumping' unit, not vshown'. Fluid drawn upwardly through the pumping string 1 is discharged outwardly l`therefrom through an elbow '9. Y

The pumping string I operates lwithirra tubing string l0, whichis connected into the valve mem?- bjervnll of the ohristmastree 'with-the kping valve l2 the position shown in Fig. QQ'gasmay `threaded lower portion 59 of the plug 29.

be injected under pressure through the ports I4 to pass downwardly through the annular space I5 between pumping string and tubing string.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tubing string I0 terminates downwardly in a coupling I 6, which has connected outwardly thereon the housing I1, and inwardly thereinto the working barrel I8. The working barrel has connected thereto the sleeve means, or sleeve assembly I9, which terminates downwardly' in the plug 20, which has the shoulder 2| thereon to bear against the end 22 of the housing I1 in assembly. The tubular member 23 is connected into the plug 20 and extends therebelow and terminates in the bull plug 24, which is positioned in the bore I to receive huid, as oil, thereinto through the radial ports 25.

The pumping string, or hollow sucker rod string 1, terminates downwardly within the working barrel I8 in the travelling valve 26. This travelling valve 26 has the connection member 21 which vconnects directly to the pumping string 1, and

which has a turned down portion 28 thereon to receive the sealing member 29, which contacts the bore 36 of the working barrel I8. The valve bodyv3I is connected to extend below the connectionmember 21, and has therein the check valve or ball 32, which normally seats by gravity upon the valve seat 33, and which is restrained from upward motion above the step pin 34. The terminal member 35 of the travelling valve has the sealing member 36 confined therearound to also seal with the working barrel bore 30.

, A sleeve assembly I9 is connected to the working barrel I8 by means of the coupling 4I, which has connected therebelow the sleeve member 42. This member 42, in turn, connects into the coupling member 43, `which has the transverse wall 44 thereacross. The standing valve stem 45 is connected into the transverse wall 44 and ex- Vtends upwardly within the sleeve member 42,

and has the valve seat 46 at the top on which seats the ball or valve 41. The upper end of the vstem 45isA threaded to'receive thereon the standing valve body 48, which has the longitudinally extending slots 49 therein and also the axial port 50 within closure 5I, which also acts as the stop for the ball 41. Y

vThe coupling 44 has the end 52 of' the outwardly swedged sleeve 53 vconnected thereinto. This swedged sleeve 53 terminates downwardly vin the terminal plug 29 connected thereonto so that the collar 2|V thereof shoulders at 54 against the housing end V22 and the seal ring 55, to seal oi communication between annular space 56 Vwithin the housing bore 51, and thesleeve assembly I9. The tubular member 23, which is externally threaded at 58, connects into the internally As shown most clearly in Fig. 8, the plug 20 has the radially extending passages 6I) therein, which terminate inwardly in the central bore 6I. Spaced vfrom the passages 60 are the longitudinally extending ports 62 which place the interior 63 of the tubular member 23 in communication with the internal threaded bore 64 within the upper plugportion 65. The swedged sleeve 53 is threaded at its lower end 66 into this upper plug portion 65 so that the space 61 is placed in communication with the ports 62. The tubular stem 68 is threaded atV 15 into the plug bore 6I and has, at the upper end thereof, the valve seat 69, which is for the valve 10. Thevalve body 1I is threaded onto the stem 68` to restrain the Valve seat 69, and the top 12 of the valve body 1I comprises the stop member `for the spring `13, which bears within the recess 14 of the valve 10 to nor.-

lmally maintain it seated against the valve seat 69. The valve body 1I has the longitudinally extending slots or openings 16 therein and the top 12 has therein the axial bore 12.

The tubular member 23 which is connected into the lower portion of the plug 26, has as a part thereof the coupling 11, which has connected thereinto below the gas anchor 18, and which has connected thereinto abovethe stem 19, which has the valve seat 8D on the top thereof and the valve body 8l threaded thereinto. The ball or valve 83 seats normally against the valve seat, and the valve body 8| has the top 84, which acts as an upward stop for the ball 83. Slots, or longitudinal passages 85,y are formed in the valve body to permit the passage of fiuid therethrough and the top 84 also has the axial port 86 therethrough.

Surrounding the gas anchor 18 and threaded into the coupling 11 at 81, is provided the bull plug 24. This plug 24 has radial ports '25 through the walls thereof and fluid, as oil, or oilhaving gas or air mixed therewith, passes through these ports so that the heavierfluid. as oil, will fall rst to .the bottom of the'bull plug 93 to extend upwardly into the gas anchor bore 94.

In operation gas is forced under pressure through the inlets I4 into the Christmas tree 5. and such gas passes through the port in the plug valve .I 2, and downwardly through the space I5 between pumping string 1 and' tubing string I 0. Upon reaching the working zbarrel I8 this gas passes outwardly through the ports |60 `therein as its further downward passage isstopped by the upper travelling valve seal.29 The gas is thus deflected downwardly through the space 56 between the housing 4I1 and the sleeve assembly I9 and passes inwardly through passages and upwardly through the plug bore 6I,- `and through the stem 68 to lift the valve 1li.V

Upon lifting the valve 10, the gas passes.. outwardly through the slots 16 into the interior of the swedged sleeve 53, and upwardly through the stem 45 to lift the check valve 41; This Acreates a low pressure area at least within. the

lower portion ofthe swedged sleeve 53 and-therebelow, since the upward rush of the gas past the valve 1II4 operatesv upon the, Venturi principle. The existence of this area above the vcheck ball 83, against which the pressure of the welluids acts from below results in the lifting of the ball`83, sovthat the'iiuid, asoil, standing in the gas anchor 18 and bull :plug 90,A may passupwardly by its own pressure and/or the suction of the gas to pass through the ports 62, and upwardly into the swedged sleeve 53. As thejgas passes upwardlythrough the swedged sleeve 53. and past the check ball 41 itcarries the uid, as oil and any air whichmay 'be mixed therewith, along upwardly toward the travelling valve 26.

On the downward stroke lof the pump the pumping string 1 is forced downwardly in the tubing string I6 and the travelling valve 26 at the end thereof is moved downwardly inthe working barrel I8. The'mixture of air, gas and oil is thus compressed in the space above the check ball 41 and the check ball, or valve, is forced by the pressure thereabove to seat upon the valve seat 46. The pressure thus created is suicient to lift the check valve 3 2 in the travel;- ling valve 26 so that the mixture of uid, gas and air is entrapped thereabove within the hollow pumping string 1, and the top part of the column of fluid within the pumping string is transferred outwardly through the elbow 9 at the top of the well.

On the downstroke, the column of iluid above the check valve 32 maintains this valve seatedin the seat 33, so that none of the iluid thereabove is lost downwardly. This downward stroke of the y l travelling valve also tends to seat the check valve 41 against the gas pressure acting upwardly thereon from below and it also tends to seat the gas lift valve 10.

Broadly this invention considers a gas lift and apparatus in which gas under pressure passes outwardly from around a hollow pumping string through the working barrel in which the travelling valve at the end of the pumping string moves,

and from thence the gas passes downwardly between an exterior housing and a sleeve means below the working barrel and then upwardly through suitable valving arrangements within the sleeve assembly below the travelling valve. This invention further considers employing the suction thus created to draw fluid, as oil, upwardly into the sleeve assembly, through suitable valves and ports, to be transferred further upwardly by the lgas and through the travelling valve into the hollow pumping string to be lifted from the well.

I claim: y

1. The combination of, a well tubing string including, a tubular sleeve assembly and a housing therearound connected thereto and radially spaced therefrom and having a closed lower end, a hollow pumping string in said tubing string radially spaced therefrom and including a downwardly travelling valve operable in said sleeve assembly, a check valve in said travelling valve, a gas lift valve below said travelling valve and upstanding within said sleeve assembly above said housing end and controlling fluid communication into the interior of said sleeve assembly, port means through said sleeve assembly wall completing fluid communication between the annulus between pumping and tubing string and the annulus between sleeve assembly and housing, port means in said sleeve assembly adapted to complete iluid communication between said second annulus and said gas lift valve so that gas may be injected into said rst annulus to 6 force against said gas lift valve, and a standing valve spaced in said sleeve assembly between said gas lift valve and said travelling valve and said `port means in said sleeve assembly adapted to provide communication between the interior of the hollow pump string and a source of fluid being pumped.

2. The combination of, a well tubing string including, a tubular sleeve assembly and a housing therearound connected thereto and radially spaced therefrom and having a closed lower end, a hollow pumping string in said tubing string radially spaced therefrom and including a downwardly travelling valve operable in said sleeve assembly, a check valve in said travelling valve, a gas lift valve below said travelling valve and upstanding within said sleeve assembly above said housing end and controlling fluid communication into the interior of said sleeve assembly, port means through said sleeve assembly wall completing fluid communication between the annulus between pumping and tubing string and the annulus between sleeve assembly and housing, port means in said sleeve assembly adapted to complete fluid communication between said second annulus and said gas lift valve so that gas may be injected into said rst annulus to force against said gas lift valve, a standing valve spaced in said sleeve assembly between said gas lift valve and said travelling valve, and a tubular member connected below said housing lower end and terminating in a ported plug and having a check valve above said plug, said last mentioned porty means including means adapted to provide communication between the tubular member and the interior of the hollow pump string.

' GRANVILLE A. HUMASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,479,964 Humason Jan. 8, 1924 1,771,070 Bannon July 22, 1930 2,338,767 Humason Jan. 11, 1944 

